Re: Updated: Boris resigns as party leader
 

Meanwhile thousands of people jet off to countries where the temperature is regularly as high as anything we are likely to see next week.

All without the need for headless chicken mode to kick in.

Re: Updated: Boris resigns as party leader
 

He's still being paid, he should still should do the job. He's not paid to have parties, no matter how much he likes them, lockdown or otherwise.
As a tax payer I'm sure you agree. He's a public sector leech.

Re: Updated: Boris resigns as party leader
 

As i understand it Boris has deputised the now infamous slice of cake that the gutter press are so obsessed about to oversee the matter.

Re: Updated: Boris resigns as party leader
 

Actually, he is paid to have parties, its part of the job when meeting leaders of other countries. He also is allowed time off, like the rest of us (and like in this case).

What exactly do you think he would do at this meeting that no one else can ?
In the unlikely event a decision (only he could make) was needed, he is perfectly contactable (much as I am, its called being on call).

JFYI, it will be the second Cobra meeting Cabinet Office minister Kit Malthouse Malthouse has led on the issue.

Re: Updated: Boris resigns as party leader
 

The cake was a 9-minute surprise event between meetings. Get a grip, man!

---------- Post added at 19:27 ---------- Previous post was at 19:24 ----------

It’s just a pity that someone forgot to invite a world leader to Boris’s cake event!

Re: Updated: Boris resigns as party leader
 

He's not meeting foreign dignitaries today, just a bit of a piss up for his mates, on public property, at public expense. No change there. Just when a National Emergency has been declared and he should be chairing the planning meeting.

Re: Updated: Boris resigns as party leader
 

No, Mr K. This is a morale boosting exercise. :D

Re: Updated: Boris resigns as party leader
 

Public Property ?

Chequers : The 16th-century Buckinghamshire mansion and its 1,000-acre estate in the Chilterns were gifted a century ago to whoever holds the office of prime minister as a retreat from the bustle of Downing Street.

Public expense ?

Your source ? or perhaps you have seen the bills yourself, and know who is paying ?

I think your just bitter (more than normal) because you didnt get invited.

Re: Updated: Boris resigns as party leader
 

Chequers is public property. It's owned by the Government. Its maintenance and staffing is paid for by the Government. I think it's the same deal as No 10 where the staffing, security, maintenance and so on are paid for by the taxpayer but the food is paid for by the PM apart from official events.

Re: Updated: Boris resigns as party leader
 

Is the meeting likely to cover anything that the outgoing PM is required? We have some hot weather that isn't likely to stay that way. That is more longer term, less urgent topic best left to cabinet and those who are more able to make any immediate tweaks required now.

Re: Updated: Boris resigns as party leader
 

It's normal for the PM to chair Cobra meeting. A National Emergency has been declared and thousands of extra deaths have been forecast. This isn't just another heatwave. He could at least take an interest.

The UK is leaderless atm, he's not doing the job he gets paid to do. Tbf he never has.

Re: Updated: Boris resigns as party leader
 

I hope nothing historical gets damaged by adult partygoers as Downing Street took a bit of a bashing during the Partygate season (better known as "lockdown" for us plebs.) ;)

Re: Updated: Boris resigns as party leader
 

It is normal for the PM to chair Cobra meetings just as it is normal for someone else to be delegated to do them.

My word, Mr K, you have got it in for the PM, haven’t you?

Well you should be as pleased as punch that he is going, so maybe you should move on now.

Re: Updated: Boris resigns as party leader
 

The country will be better for it OB , thought looks like his replacement will be a tax raising slime ball or an air head. Still an improvement though.

Re: Updated: Boris resigns as party leader
 

The Sky News Leadership Candidate debate has been cancelled: https://news.sky.com/story/sky-news-...l-out-12654286

That's disappointing. It was great fun watching them tear chunks out of each other. It was also quite interesting to see the performances against what people expected of them.

Sunak was pretty polished and accomplished, makes sense he was the front runner. Kemi Badenoch was probably the breakout candidate, talks very well and is well suited to debating. She would be a big problem for Labour if she got the job I think. Tugendhat was good but I can't see Tory Members picking him.

I have no idea why Truss is rated so highly. I thought she performed terribly and didn't have a grasp on the issues she was talking about when challenged on them. I think Thatcher really maintains a hold on the Tory mindset that anyone who can even be vaguely compared with her - i.e a middle-aged white woman running for the leadership from the right of the party - gets an instant boost.

The worst thing for the Tories in these debates is how the candidates talk as if they're in opposition. Talking of how they can't find a dentist or the state of the economy as if they haven't in charge for 12 years is going to cause some people to throw stuff at their television.